The inaugural David Gemmell Legend Award for Fantasy will be awarded to the best fantasy novel of the year (2008). The award has the official support of Stella Gemmell and has been instigated by friends and professional colleagues to celebrate David’s life and literary legacy. Nominations are currently being sought from editors of every major genre fantasy list for full-length novels, in the English language, first published in 2008. The nominated novels must be deemed fantasy in the ... read more
Posted: September 27th, 2008 by Lee | No Comments | Filed under David Gemmell
Fantasy author Royce Buckingham is riding high after making the best seller list* in Germany with his debut fantasy novel and is celebrating the U.S. release of his second novel, Goblins! Random House-Germany released Buckingham’s first book, Demonkeeper, last month as part of its new fantasy imprint, Penhaligon. The book’s German title is Damliche Damonen. Buckingham has recently inked additional deals with Random House-Germany for a sequel to Demonkeeper and his book, ... read more
Posted: September 26th, 2008 by Lee | No Comments | Filed under General Interest
Buzznet was a little torn over the idea of Twilight author Stephenie Meyer directing the video for “The Resolution” by Jack’s Mannequin. And now, Meyer’s directorial debut is set to premiere on MTV2, MTVU and MTV.com on September 29th. Watch the video now! ... read more
Posted: September 26th, 2008 by Lee | No Comments | Filed under Stephenie Meyer
Discworld creator Terry Pratchett will be making a special visit to a Southport bookstore to sign his latest books. The world-famous author will meet fans at Broadhursts on Market Street, after the shop won a national competition for the best Discworld-themed window to celebrate 25 years of the series. It is one of just three signings Terry will be doing in 2008, for his latest titles Nation and Folklore of the Discworld. The shop’s winning window, featuring a lot of Discworld ... read more
Posted: September 26th, 2008 by Lee | No Comments | Filed under Terry Pratchett
Director Guillermo del Toro has announced plans to write a trilogy of vampire novels with crime author Chuck Hogan. The 43-year-old, best known for making Pans Labyrinth, Hellboy and The Devil’s Backbone, said the trilogy would advance in “unexpected ways”. The first book, The Strain, will be released next summer. Hogan’s novels include The Blood Artists, The Killing Moon and Prince of Thieves, which is being adapted into a feature film, starring and directed by Ben ... read more
Posted: September 26th, 2008 by Lee | No Comments | Filed under General Interest
Until Sunday, September 28, Bath. THE last few days of The Bath Festival of Children’s Literature this weekend promise to bring the event to a compelling conclusion. Now in its second year the festival, sponsored by The Daily Telegraph, caters for babies and the youngest book fans as well as special events for older readers. One writer who has much to offer to both children and parents alike is Michelle Paver, the City-lawyer-turned-novelist whose Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series ... read more
Posted: September 26th, 2008 by Lee | No Comments | Filed under Michelle Paver
A Terry Pratchett novel is being brought to the stage by an amateur drama group in Trowbridge. Maskerade, the 18th novel in the Discworld series, has been adapted for the stage by Stephen Biggs. Trowbridge Players director Angela Giddings said a host of local performers were taking part in this version of the Phantom of the Opera, with quirky twists. The story centres on Perdita X (known as Agnes to her friends), who is seeking her fortune as an opera singer in Ankh-Morpork. All seems ... read more
Posted: September 26th, 2008 by Lee | No Comments | Filed under Terry Pratchett
R.A. Salvatore, author of 18 New York Times bestsellers, has been captivating fantasy readers with thrilling novels in The Legend of Drizzt(TM) series for 20 years. Now, kids can enter the world of Drizzt with The Stowaway (Mirrorstone, September), by R.A. Salvatore and his son, Geno Salvatore. This is R.A. Salvatore’s first foray into young adult literature and the first book in the “Stone of Tymora” trilogy (ages 10 up). The Stowaway features all the suspense, action, and ... read more
Posted: September 26th, 2008 by Lee | No Comments | Filed under RA Salvatore
Sir Ian McKellen, who played Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings films, is again using his fame to promote homosexuality - this time to children in schools. McKellen is a founding member of and long-time campaigner for Stonewall, one of the world’s most successful homosexualist lobby groups. His new task with the group involves tours of British schools to speak to them about “tolerance” of homosexuality. Some, however, see the gay lobby’s campaign to bring the ... read more
Posted: September 26th, 2008 by Lee | No Comments | Filed under J.R.R. Tolkien
Disabled author, Lanaia Lee, has published the first book in a five-book historical-fantasy series, Of Atlantis, released in July to rave reviews. One reviewer called it, “Page to Screen Material”. Based upon one of the kings of the lost continent of Atlantis, Lee’s main character, Archimedes, prevails in war, survives the destruction of Atlantis and with his arch-enemy, Uric, goes on to play crucial roles in subsequent historical events like the Mayan Doomsday Prophecy, the Prophecies ... read more
Posted: September 26th, 2008 by Lee | No Comments | Filed under General Interest